A Randomized Trial of Wraparound Facilitation Versus Usual Child Protection Services. (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Browne, Dillon T.; Puente-Duran, Sofia; Shlonsky, Aron; Thabane, Lehana; Verticchio, Dominic
• Is Part Of: Research on social work practice. Volume 26:Number 2(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 168
• Page End: 179
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: child welfare -- RCT -- child abuse -- child neglect -- community intervention; Social service -- Periodicals; 361.3205
• DOI: 10.1177/1049731514549630
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-7315

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether the addition of a wraparound facilitator to regular child protection services improved child and family functioning over 20 months. Method: A single blind randomized controlled trial with concealment and stratification across three sites ( N = 135 eligible families with substantiated maltreatment). Results: Based on 2 × 2 mixed analysis of variance and intention to treat, both groups improved in child impairments, d = −.60 [−.81, −.39], caregiver psychological distress, d = −.33 [−.52, −.13], and family resources, d = .44 [.27, .62]. No measurable benefit was associated with the intervention (e.g., child impairments, d = .14 [−.12, .52]). However, treatment fidelity analysis revealed that many components of wraparound were either missing or present in both groups. Conclusions: The presence of a facilitator alone did not appear to improve child or family functioning if the various components of wraparound were not adequately implemented.